Instruction machine

Abstract

An instruction machine employing a multi-track (two channels on each track) tape recorder wherein analog instructions are recorded on one channel of a tape and control signals are recorded on the other channel. Control signals perform a number of functions and are recorded on a tape responsive to operation of a digital keyboard. Typically, an instructor would record a lecture on one channel and control signals (e.g. for reproduction of material recorded elsewhere) on the other channel, the control signals being positioned opposite points in a recorded lecture where some equipment control is desired, e.g. for providing supplemental displays or continuation of the lecture on another track. For example, a student might be questioned and the student required to indicate his answer by operation of the keyboard. If the student's answer did not display certain knowledge, represented by the selection of a correct answer coded on the control signal channel, the tape transport would be caused to move to a different track and field position on the tape to reproduce certain other lecture material in order that the student be given particular additional instruction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An instruction machine comprising: recording medium transport means for accommodating and for, selectively, moving a recording medium, said medium having at least one track, said track having at least two, A, an audio, and B, a digitally encoded, coordinate channels;   transducer means positionable adjacent to said recording medium for playing back from separate signals on said track of said A and B channels;   said signals including audio signals disposed on channel A and digital words and addresses on channel B;   digital generating means, including a keyboard for selecting and generating a digital output;   memory means responsive to said transducer means and a selected plurality of digital words sensed by said transducer means from at least one first address on a said B channel, for storing each said word in a discrete digitally addressable storage location;   control means responsive to a digital output of said digital generating means, a memory address output, and coupled to said memory means for providing as an output of said memory means a discrete one of said digital words;   positioning means responsive to a said one of said digital words, representative of a second address on said recording medium, for relatively positioning said transducer means with respect to said recording medium adjacent a said second address for enabling said transducer means to engage and reproduce from a thus selected portion of a said track; and   audio means coupled to said transducer means for playing back from said channel A aural material from said selected portion of said track;   whereby one of said plurality of words located at a first address on said recording medium and representative of a second and remote address on said recording medium may be selected by a particular operation of said keyboard enabling the machine to locate and play back material as a function of a student's response entered on said keyboard.   
     
     
       2. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means includes: a digital register having a plurality of digital storage positions for temporarily storing selected digital words, and including means for temporarily storing a recording medium address word in one said storage position, and an output of said memory means being coupled to said digital register for transferring words, including recording medium address words, to said digital register; and   means for selectively transferring a said recording medium address word from said digital register to said positioning means.   
     
     
       3. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said transducer means includes means for recording on said A and B channels;   said memory means includes means for receiving and temporarily storing digital words successively appearing in the same said selected storage position in said digital register; and   means coupling the output of said memory means to said transducer means for supplying, successively, to said transducer means said digital words applied by said digital register to said memory means for recording said last-named digital words, successively, in a selected order on said B channel of a said track.   
     
     
       4. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said memory means comprises memory address means for selectively determining the address within said memory means wherein an input digital word would be stored and from which a digital word would be supplied as an output. 
     
     
       5. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said memory address means is selectively responsive to said digital generating means for controlling said memory means, whereby a selected stored digital word is provided as an output. 
     
     
       6. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said memory address means further comprises an address counter means responsive to the occurrence of a digital word output from said register, and alternately from said B channel record-playback means, for operating said memory address means, whereby words sequentially received from said register and said channel B by said memory means are stored at like sequential addresses in said memory means. 
     
     
       7. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one auxiliary readout means responsive to a selected digital word in said digital register for providing selected aural information as an output from said auxiliary readout means. 
     
     
       8. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein one of said auxiliary readout means comprises a slide projector and includes means responsive to a received digital word from said digital register for displaying any one of a selected group of slides. 
     
     
       9. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 7 further comprising an additional auxiliary readout means, in turn comprising an electronic imaging display responsive to a selected digital word from said register to provide selected images as an output. 
     
     
       10. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said recording medium transport means is a multi-track tape transport. 
     
     
       11. An instruction machine comprising: a recording medium having at least one track, said track having at least one digitally encoded channel having recorded thereon at, at least at one recording location a plurality of digitally encoded words, each word representative of separate discrete locations on said recording medium;   recording medium transport means for accommodating and for selectively moving said recording medium;   transducer means positionable adjacent to said recording medium for playing back from said recording medium;   digital generating means, including a keyboard for selecting and generating a digital output;   memory means responsive to said transducer means and a selected plurality of digital words sensed by said transducer means from at least one, a first, address on said digitally encoded channel, for storing each said word in a discrete digitally addressable storage location;   control means responsive to a digital output of said digital generating means, a memory address output, and coupled to said memory means for providing as an output of said memory means a discrete one of said digital words;   positioning means responsive to a said one of said digital words, representative of a second address on said recording medium, for relatively positioning said transducer means with respect to said recording medium adjacent said second address for enabling said transducer means to engage and reproduce a thus selected portion of a said track; and   readout means coupled to said transducer means for reproducing information from a recording responsive to signals recorded on said recording medium;   whereby one of said selected plurality of words located at a first address on said recording medium and representative of a second and remote address on said recording medium is selected by a particular operation of said keyboard enabling the machine to locate and play back material as a function of a student's response entered on said keyboard.   
     
     
       12. An instruction machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein: said recording medium has at least two, A, an audio, and B, said digitally encoded channels; and   said readout means comprises means for playing back from said channel A aural material from said selected portion of said track.